Decision on the future of early help services for children and families to be taken in the new year

Following a public consultation on improving early help services for children and families in Buckinghamshire, the council will make a decision on the future of these services in early 2018.

Over 2000 residents and organisations across Buckinghamshire responded to the consultation seeking views on proposals to a new way of supporting families earlier to prevent problems from getting bigger or spiralling out of control. The consultation ran from July to October this year and proposals can be viewed atwww.buckscc.gov.uk/earlyhelp.

Cabinet will be presented with the findings of the consultation and recommendations for the future of early help services on January 8 2018.

Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “I am very pleased with the response to our consultation on improving early help services for children and families in Bucks. I highly value what our residents have to say and I am taking their feedback seriously.

We want to develop the right service for children and families in Buckinghamshire, one that is fit for the future. For this reason we are extending the timeline for a final decision on the future of early help until the new year.

Early help is about supporting children and families when things are getting tough to stop them from spiralling out of control and then needing support from state services like social care. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that these services provide the best possible support to those of greatest need, and most importantly at the right time to be of most help.

It is important that we develop a model that will improve the lives of families who need us the most and that we take the time to get it right.”